On NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: The African Children's Choir sing and dance to their jubilant African Tunes

March 17, 2007 Durham, NC-- Statistics state that by 2010 there will be an estimated 18 million AIDS orphans in Africa. The African Medical Research Foundation (AMREF) reports that despite concerted efforts to put an end to it, the HIV/AIDS pandemic remains a global disaster. Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) harbors nearly 65% of the estimated 40.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS in the world in 2005. While general awareness about HIV and its causes is almost universal in most of SSA, transmission has not abated, AMREF further reports.

On the other side of the world, many different concerned groups and citizens are not only listening or merely watching, but are pro-actively defending the cause of the fatherless, the oppressed and the orphans of Africa.  2007 March 17, the African Children’s Choir (ACC), with ages 7 to 11 years old arrives in their new home here in North Carolina sponsored by King's Park International Church (kpic.org).

Last year Ron Lewis and the pastoral team of KPIC took what seemed a giant leap of faith by offering KPIC and the Raleigh area as the home base for the ACC.  Ray Barnette, the President of the ACC along with Exec. Director Julia Barnette were encouraged by the offer since this was right in line with their prayers and hopes for the children. This dream realized has brought a blessing to both the ACC and the Raleigh-Durham community.

This exciting move to their new home, made possible through the help of generous donors, will allow the Choir to rest, play, and focus on school work between tours, while giving the local community opportunities to interact with the ACC and staff.  The Choir is scheduled to perform at various local and other special events around the U.S. and abroad throughout 2007.  Last April 14 at KPIC, the ACC held an "Inaugural Concert,"  which met with great success. One week later in L.A., the Choir appeared in a performance with Josh Groban on the popular television show "American Idol" during its special episode on giving back to the children of Africa.

Through the financial, physiological, emotional and spiritual support extended by the ACC staff, the ACC members now have a testimony of what it means to overcome. Their mourning has miraculously turned into singing and dancing. Despite losing one, if not both parents, because of several tragedies ranging from war, famine and disease such as HIV/AIDS, the children’s captivating and angelic singing gives a powerful voice to Africa’s 12 million AIDS orphans. 

The ACC’s goal is to raise awareness of the need of destitute and other orphaned children left in Africa and to raise funds for continued development and support for the Choir’s relief and development programs. For this ambitious endeavor to be successful, the pastoral team of KPIC led by Ron Lewis is looking for more individuals and corporations to partner with KPIC and the African Children's Choir.

Aside from the maintenance of various needs of the ACC members throughout their stay at their new home in North Carolina, there are many current project needs, from volunteer helpers to corporate sponsorships. Once the Choir members have completed a concert tour, they will go back to their homeland with the support, care and education necessary to help make Africa a better place to live in.  If you are interested to advance the cause of these precious children, visit http://acc.kpic.org for more information. In addition, you can visit chosen.org for more insight on how to help the worldwide orphan crisis.

The Choir's home in North Carolina	Ron Lewis listening to Congressman David Price of North Carolina, as he graces the ACC concert at KPIC in Durham on April 14, 2007 (Photo by: Anita Letkemann)

The ACC during one of their colorful numbers at a concert hosted by KPIC in North Carolina on April 14, 2007 (Photo by: Anita Letkemann)